Factors a ffecting the p erformance of Village Assistance Bureaus in Gilan p rovince of Iran

         This paper studies the main factors influencing the performance of Village Assistance Bureaus (VAB) in Gilan province. A descriptive survey research methodology is used. The statistical population is composed of 839 VABS in Gilan , and the sample size is 149 by using a multistage sampling and probability proportionate to size in each cluster. The questionnaire’s validity is ascertained by a group of subject specialist experts. The reliability of research items were evaluated by using Cronbach's alpha that indicated high reliability of the items assessing the research variables. Eleven variables entered in a stepwise regression model explaining 72 percent of the variance of the performance of VABS in Gilan province. According to the research findings the following variables had significant influence on VAB performance respectively: organizational collaboration, village assistant’s (v.a.) job satisfaction, village council collaboration, people’s participation, level of participation in training by v.a., facilities and resources available to VAB, v.a.’s income, village geographical situation, consultation of v.a. with local leaders and members of village council, village management record in v.a. family, v.a’s incentives for village development.